Eckerd College junior Julia Collins, a double major in Spanish and international business, was one of 60 students from around the world to speak at the United Nations this summer as part of a foreign language essay competition. The "Many Languages, One World Essay Contest" drew entries from nearly 1,500 students on the subjects of multilingualism and global citizenship. Essays were written in any of the six official languages of the U.N. — Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian or Spanish — and not the student's native language. Collins and the other winners were invited to participate in a five-day Global Youth Forum at the U.N. in New York City, culminating June 27 with presentations to the General Assembly. She wrote her essay — and spoke — in Spanish.

"I spoke on the creation of global citizenship at a younger age," said Collins, a native of Duluth, Ga. "Through the many classes I have taken, I have really developed a global understanding of the world, and I see a serious need to begin changing the mindset of people across the globe from individualistic to a 'for the good of the world' mentality."

She entered the contest in February and was sponsored by Spanish professor Yolanda Molina-Gavilan.

Experienced Learners courts students

The Eckerd College Program for Experienced Learners will host a workshop for prospective students Wednesday. It will include a presentation, "Financing Your Return to School," which will cover how financial aid can be different from the process for traditional undergraduate students. The session will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Franklin Templeton building on the Eckerd campus, 4200 54th St. S in St. Petersburg.

The Program for Experienced Learners is designed for adults who want to complete a bachelor's degree. It offers classes on evenings and weekends. Ideal candidates for admission have completed a year of transferable college coursework, or have training or work experience that can qualify for credit.